Your first week postpartum is challenging, but you don’t have to walk into it blind. Here are three things you can expect in that first week.
1. Your hormones will drop significantly after building through pregnancy.
This hormone drop is often called the “baby blues” because it can feel like depression and anxiety. You’ll likely experience crying, sadness, and mood swings without knowing why. This won’t last! Ask for help from support people and rest assured that most women return to normal in a few weeks.
Note: If you experience these symptoms longer than a few weeks after giving birth, reach out to your healthcare provider. They are happy to connect you with help for treating postpartum depression, anxiety, OCD, etc.
2. Mature milk comes in about three days after giving birth.
Your thinner, whiter mature milk will come in (even if you’re not planning to breastfeed). You can expect:
- Breast engorgement (breasts feeling full and heavy)
- Breast milk leakage
- Flattening or tightening of skin around areolas
- Sore nipples (for a few days)
It can be difficult to latch your newborn to engorged breasts. Soften them by applying a warm compress, taking a warm shower, or hand expressing a small amount of milk before feeding. You can also use a cold compress to ease the swelling.
If you’re not breastfeeding or pumping, your milk should dry up 7-10 days after giving birth.
Planning to breastfeed? Book an appointment with our staff IBCLC to prepare!
3. Bleeding from your vagina continues throughout the first week and beyond.
This is called lochia and is made of blood, tissue, and fluid that builds up in your uterus throughout pregnancy. Lochia will be bright or dark red with blood clots and then fade to a pink-ish brown with a more moderate flow.
Note: If you are soaking a pad with blood every hour, seeing golf ball-sized clots, or feeling dizziness and excessive cramping, go to your local emergency department.
You've Got This.
You can also expect joy as you finally see and hold your sweet newborn. Recruit plenty of support so you can rest with your newborn.
Pregnant and worried about surviving postpartum? Talk to our staff case manager about local resources we can connect you with!*
*Our case management services require an intake appointment. Make your first appointment at The Pregnancy Network below.
Adrienne Bergmeier
Adrienne Bergmeier is a Communications Coordinator at The Pregnancy Network.